Chapter 3: Uncertain Path Ahead

“The world today is divided into Five Continents and Four Extremes, and the top powers of cultivation consist of the Six Surnames and Twelve Sects.”

“The Five Continents are the Central, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern Continents, separated from each other by the sea, which cannot be crossed without profound cultivation.

The Four Extremes are natural landmarks in each of the Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern continents, unchanging since time immemorial.

For example, the East Continent’s ‘Cloud-Top Peak’—its height is immeasurable; no one has ever seen its summit since ancient times, nor has anyone crossed it to see what lies beyond.”

“The North Continent’s Endless Snowfield, the West Continent’s Forest of No Return, and the South Continent’s Boundless Sands are all the same—boundless and impassable, hailed as the extremities of the world…”

Draped in an immortal aura, untouched by mortal dust, Yun Qingping leaned against a tree branch, idly flipping through a scroll in her hand, casually explaining the common knowledge of the cultivation world to Xun Qiu, who was soaking in a wooden barrel of medicinal liquid.

Xun Qiu could never have come up with one hundred and thirty-nine million high-grade spirit stones, but in the end, he still chose the Nameless Book.

It wasn’t because of some firm conviction or an unshakeable heart for the Dao, but simply because Yun Qingping had allowed him to buy it on credit.

Every time she thought about this, Yun Qingping found it a bit incredible.

She wasn’t some big spender who had to squander her entire fortune every time she went out, nor was she a great philanthropist who would help every kitten and puppy she saw.

Yet now, she was willing to spend so much money on Xun Qiu, almost staking her entire net worth.

Was it really just to gamble on him successfully cultivating the Nameless Book and, in time, achieving supreme cultivation to repay her?

Impossible… the probability was too low.

A hundred percent losing venture.

But strangely, she didn’t have the slightest regret.

If she had to say why… it was fate.

A rather strange feeling.

Thinking about it carefully, Xun Qiu, an ordinary person, had been swept into the vortex between her and Bo Qiuyun.

Not only was he unharmed, but he even received a gift from Bo Qiuyun, obtaining the Nameless Book, a cultivation method extremely suitable for him.

And because of this fortuitous encounter, he joined her organization…

Not only that, but she also found this fellow to be quite to her liking, thinking that meeting him was a matter of fate and intending to give him some guidance to prevent him from dying too quickly.

But then, by a strange twist of fate, she discovered his root bone and developed a heart that cherished talent…

Yun Qingping lowered her head, recalling the peculiar feeling she had when, thinking “what if,” she had checked her Mustard Seed Sumeru and found that she had all the necessary materials and pills for the Nameless Book, and even had substitutes for the missing ones.

Was there someone who had calculated all of this, guiding the situation to this point?

But her own cultivation was already among the top ranks in the current world; even counting the reclusive old masters, she could squeeze into the top fifteen.

Her organization also had one of the top three Celestial Being experts in the world helping to conceal her heavenly secrets.

It was impossible for someone to calculate her moves so precisely.

After much thought, it seemed that only the word “fate” could explain it.

Even the heavens did not want Xun Qiu to be buried in obscurity.

Thus, Bo Qiuyun discovered him and gave him the Nameless Book.

Thus, she discovered him and helped him practice the “Aperture Opening” chapter…

It was truly incredible.

Yun Qingping closed the leisure book in her hand and found that Xun Qiu had already fainted in the medicinal liquid in the wooden barrel.

His body was incredibly weak.

Even to cultivate the Nameless Book, he had to first strengthen his physique, and then temper his will and spirit.

‘A phoenix in distress, regaining its wings from another… let me see how far you can fly.’

She snapped her fingers.

Xun Qiu, in the medicinal liquid, was lifted by an invisible force, changed into an inconspicuous set of clothes, and floated gently beside her.

In the blink of an eye, the two of them disappeared from the deep mountain forest.

“What?

I’m not going with you, Fairy?”

Xun Qiu was so shocked that the chicken leg in his hand almost fell.

It was now the fourth day since he had met Yun Qingping.

For the first three days, Yun Qingping had agreed to his request to buy on credit and had personally prepared medicinal baths for him to nourish his physique.

He had once thought he was about to be taken as a disciple by Yun Qingping; otherwise, why would she be so dedicated?

But today, she directly said they were to part ways?

‘Then who will provide the rest of the medicinal baths, pills, and heavenly materials and earthly treasures for me?’

Yun Qingping wore a bamboo hat and veil, hiding her face but unable to conceal her ethereal and otherworldly aura.

Just by sitting in the inn, she attracted countless gazes from others.

She said faintly:

“Of course not now.

Your ‘Aperture Opening’ is not yet complete, so I cannot leave.

We will travel together for a few more days, heading north.”

“That’s good.”

Xun Qiu breathed a sigh of relief, then said with a thick face, “Of course, I’m not coveting your heavenly materials and earthly treasures, Fairy.

I was just worried that you were leaving so soon because you had other important matters, and I was worried about you.”

Yun Qingping knew he was talking nonsense, but she couldn’t bring herself to dislike him.

“You should worry about yourself first.

The trial of reshaping your body and soul in the Nameless Book is not easy to pass.

Even if you do pass it, you may not look the same as you do now.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Reshaping the body relies on the medicinal power and the true spirit.

But the medicinal power has no consciousness of its own, and the true spirit, without a body and soul, can only be muddled.

In the end, it is the meridians that take the lead.”

Yun Qingping said with a slight smile.

“And your meridians lean towards yin, belonging to the water and wood elements.

After reshaping, you will either be a man with a woman’s appearance, or you will completely become a woman.

In extreme cases, it’s not impossible to become a ghost.”

Xun Qiu thought for a moment.

“Oh.”

Seeing his lack of reaction, Yun Qingping was a bit surprised.

“You’re not afraid at all?”

“Being afraid is useless.”

Xun Qiu swallowed the chicken leg in his hand, licking every last shred of meat clean.

“They all sound quite scary, but when you think about it, they’re not so bad.

A man with a woman’s appearance, doesn’t that just mean I’ll be good-looking?

After all, ugliness doesn’t distinguish between men and women.

As for becoming a ghost, I’ve only heard of ghosts harming people, never of people harming ghosts.

If I become a ghost, I probably won’t go hungry anymore.

As for becoming a woman…”

He paused for a moment, then smiled.

“Fairy Yun, to be honest with you, if I were a woman, I would have long ago offered myself to sell my a** in a brothel.

I hear that rich people have strange fetishes and like the thin and small type.

Like in the capital, there’s some top courtesan who is very popular with those high officials and dignitaries…

Although being a prostitute is a bit degrading, my life wasn’t that great to begin with.

Hey, isn’t there a saying, something like ‘laugh at poverty, not at prostitution’…”

“Xun Qiu.”

Yun Qingping suddenly interrupted him, her voice devoid of any emotion.

Hearing his name called, Xun Qiu subconsciously shrank his neck and gave an embarrassed smile.

“I’ll stop talking…

Um, I know what I’m thinking is probably not right, but that…

I’ll change.”

Yun Qingping stared at him and let out a long sigh.

She knew what Xun Qiu meant—that any outcome, even dying and his soul returning to the heavens and the earth, would be better than his previous life.

But while that might be true, and what Xun Qiu said was indeed what he thought, such a view was really…

There was nothing she could do about it.

Having lost his parents at the age of six and grown up alone, it was impossible for Xun Qiu to have a normal worldview.

Yun Qingping’s gaze darkened slightly.

Her original plan to let Xun Qiu wander the martial world alone after completing the “Aperture Opening” to temper his character quietly changed.

‘No, I have to find someone to teach him…’

A thought flashed through her mind, and she had an answer.

“Xun Qiu.”

“Hmm?

What’s wrong, Fairy?”

Xun Qiu looked over.

“I cannot personally relate to the essence of the Nameless Book, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to guide you after the ‘Aperture Opening’ chapter.

Therefore, I have found another master for you.”

Yun Qingping touched the spot between her eyebrows, then extended her hand to offer him a jade pendant.

“She is the sect master of the Grand Profound Sect, one of the Twelve Sects.

Her cultivation is at the Celestial Being realm, and she is one of the top five experts in the world.

She is definitely more than qualified to guide you.”

‘Huh?

I’m going to become the disciple of someone who sounds so awesome?

For real?’

Xun Qiu accepted the jade pendant, a little hesitant.

“Then what about you, Fairy Yun…”

“I am not as good as her.”

Yun Qingping smiled faintly.

“That’s not what I was asking.”

Xun Qiu waved his hand.

“I wanted to ask if you have any plans for me after this.

Didn’t I join your organization?

I probably can’t just join another sect and cultivate in peace, right?”

Yun Qingping reached out and ruffled his hair.

“There aren’t so many rules and regulations.

Just do as you’re told.

You, a fellow who hasn’t even reached Qi Refining, are thinking more than I am.

I think you’re going to get gray hair early.”

Knowing that she didn’t want to say more, Xun Qiu properly put away the jade pendant and listened for her further arrangements.

“After you finish the ‘Aperture Opening,’ I will still leave.

This is the Central Divine Continent, and the Grand Profound Sect is located here, only about half a month’s journey away.

After seven days, you should be able to complete the ‘Aperture Opening’ chapter of the Nameless Book.

After another seven days’ journey, you will walk it on your own.”

Yun Qingping caressed the slender sword at her waist, her gaze falling into the distance.

“When you reach the foot of the Grand Profound Sect, show the jade pendant to the gate-keeping disciple, and you will be able to see her.

If she asks about me, just say you picked it up from a… corpse, and then you saw me in a dream, and I told you to go to the Grand Profound Sect to become a disciple.

She won’t ask any more questions.”

‘It seems there is some complicated story between Yun Qingping and that Grand Profound Sect Master.

Why won’t she even mention her name…’

Xun Qiu nodded to show that he understood.

Seeing that he understood the situation and didn’t tactlessly ask more questions, Yun Qingping picked up her chopsticks to eat.

“I will explain the divisions of cultivation realms to you in detail later.

Let’s eat first.

Waiter, another plate of braised pork knuckle!”

‘Fairy Yun truly possesses both an immortal aura and a worldly charm.

It’s hard not to like her…’

Xun Qiu’s thoughts gradually drifted away.

He wondered what kind of person his new master would be.

He hoped she wasn’t the cold and aloof type; he really couldn’t handle people like that…

But he quickly came back to his senses.

—If he didn’t snap out of it, Yun Qingping would finish all the food!

TL Note:

Grand Profound Sect- One of the “Twelve Sects,” a top-tier cultivation power. Yun Qingping intends to send Xun Qiu here to be taught by its Sect Master.